The Douglas Tigers Junior Midget Pop Warner football team finished undefeated in league play and go into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed.
They beat the previously undefeated Carson team 8-0 two weeks ago to clinch the division title and are getting ready to make a run at the playoffs in hope of another Snowbowl Championship.
The Tigers once again have been playing great defense. The line play of Dylan Wilson, J.P. Garner, Steven Carmagnola, Keith Becker, Kurtis Dimitri, Cameron Scholes, and Lee Rusler has been heated all through the season with awesome pressure up the middle. Defensive ends Jackson Ketron, Jake Connolly, and E.J. Rose have been spectacular in their pressure on opposing quarterbacks with numerous sacks. Linebackers Conner Peterson, Jason Connolly, Sam Cochran, Michael Hoyt, and Steven Werth have been bone crushing impressive also. The defensive backfield of Michael Nolting, Connor Hughes, Erik Edwards, and Jack Crawford have been instrumental in keeping teams passing attacks in check with broken up passes and interceptions too.
Offensively the Tigers are a constant threat to score. First and foremost the credit belongs to the offensive line. The Tigers use a number of talented linemen who have all been effective in opening up huge holes for the Tiger running attack. They are Jason Connolly, Jackson Ketron, Jake Connolly, Jimmy King, Luke Nagy, Michael Hoyt, Dillon Hekhuis, Jesse Urteaga, Michael Scarmella, Chris Eshe, Sean Jones, Steven Hiatt, Joey White, Austin Martin, Nick Morris, Jimmie Bryan, and tight end Connor Greth.
Wide receivers Connor Hughes and Isaac Keway both have caught numerous passes and scored touchdowns and extra points.
The Tigers have added a new dimension to their offense this year with the kicking of extra points and field goals. Jimmy King kicked the Tigers first ever field goal and then Connor Greth added another one and kicked some extra points and Michael Nolting has also kicked the extra points the last couple of games.
When it comes to scoring the Tigers have an incredible 10 different players that have all seen the end zone this year. Michael Nolting, Conner Hughes, Isaac Keway, Sam Cochran, Jackson Ketron, Colton Mckone, Jack Crawford, Michael Hoyt, E.J. Rose, and Conner Peterson have all put up points for the Tigers.
After a first round bye last week the Tigers start their playoff run with a home game against the Reno Patriots at 6 p.m. tonight at Stodick Park.
JUNIOR PEE WEES
The Tigers started their playoff run against a tough Reno Patriot team last Friday at Stodick Park, battling to a 28-6 victory.
Douglas was missing four starters at kickoff. After a first quarter touchdown by slotback Carter on a sweet reverse, he too was knocked out of play with an injury. Showing great heart, players stepped up to fill positions and a resilient Tiger squad overcame and persisted to earn the win.
The Tigers earned every point they scored against a hard hitting and aggressive Reno defense. Quarterback Abreu used his speed to score on two bootlegs of over forty yards. Halfback Lyons busted a thirty yard sweep to the house; he also added extra points on a power run and kick that split the uprights. Strong runs by Curtis and Lippincott rounded out the Tiger running attack.
The O line was led by center Rooker, guards Pelcher and Loshbough, and tackles Peters and Garduno. Tight ends Gervais, Werth and Lathrop, along with linemen Long, Wass, Clinger, and O'Connor, blocked well against a stout Patriot front.
The Tiger D dominated against the best passing attack they've seen this season. Two interceptions by cornerback Sullivan and one by cornerback Simons shut the Patriots down. Free safety Peck filled in for injured Carter and played lights out. Sacks by defensive ends Abreu and Lyons thwarted drives. Tough run and pass support by linebackers Gervais, Curtis and Lippincott kept field position in Douglas' favor the entire night. Stellar play up front by D linemen Loshbough, Vidaurri, Lawrence, Fricke, Englund, Rooker, Valenzuela, Lewis, Herman, Oleshak and Kaliman shut down the inside.
The Tigers show good balance with solid play on offense, defense and special teams. They'll fight to remain unbeaten on the season tonight at 8 p.m. at Stodick Park against Carson.
PEE WEES
The Douglas Tiger Pee Wee football team shut out the Carson Senators 30-0 last Friday night at Stodick Park in the first round of the Sagebrush Empire regional playoffs.
The Tiger offense scored three touchdowns in the first half, the firsst a 7-yard run by wingback Cole Melhuse, the second a 50-yard pass completion to Melhuse from quarterback Wes Hundley and the third a two-yard quarterback sneak by Hundley. In the second half the Tigers hooked up on a 70-yard pass from tailback Sullivan Cauley to Melhuse and then finished their scoring with a 38-yard TD scamper by Melhuse, for his fourth touchdown of the contest. Hundley finished with 5 of 7 passing for 78 yards
The Tiger defense was suffocating to the Senator offense behind the aggressive line play of Seth Trivitt, Taylor Souza, Brennan Neillon, Andrew Bigam, Kyle Adams, Cody Tindel, Tailer Seamons and Dalton Grisell. The Tiger defensive backs, Cody Hayes, Austin Ball, Matt Jones and Melhuse, blanketed the Senator receivers, allowing only two pass receptions, and ably assissted on run defense. Joey Petrali, Tyler Seamons and Cauley came up big on run defense, as usual, for the Tigers.
With the victory, the Pee Wees advanced to the second round of the regional playoffs, where they earn a rematch with the Reno Ravens. Kickoff is 8 p.m. tonight at Stodick Park for the number-one-seeded Tigers.
